290 NATURAL HISTORY 



16. New moons presage the dispositions of the air; but 

 especially the fourth rising of it, as if it were a confirmed 

 new moon. The full moons likewise do presage more than 

 the days which come after. 



17. By long observation the fifth day of the moon is 

 feared by mariners for stormy. 



18. If the new moon do not appear before the fourth 

 day, it foreshows a troubled air for the whole month. 



19. If the new moon, at her first appearance, or within 

 a few days after, have its lower horn obscure or dusky, or 

 any way blemished, it signifies stormy and tempestuous 

 days before the full moon; if it be ill coloured in the 

 middle, tempests will come about the full of the moon ; if 

 it be so about the upper part of the horn, they will be about 

 the decreasing of the moon. 



20. If at the fourth rising the moon appear bright, with 

 sharp horns, not lying flat, nor standing upright, but in a 

 middle kind of posture between both, it promises fair wea 

 ther for the most part until the next new moon. 



21. If at the same rising it be red, it portends winds; if 

 dusky or black, rain ; but, howsoever, it signifies nothing 

 beyond the full moon. 



22. An upright moon is almost always threatening and 

 hurtful, but it chiefly portends winds ; but if it have blunt 

 horns, and as it were cut off short, it rather signifies rain. 



23. If one horn of the moon be sharp and the other 

 blunt, it signifies wind ; if both be blunt, rain. 



24. If a circle or halo appear about the moon, it signifies 

 rain rather than wind, unless the moon stands directly 

 within that circle, for then it signifies both. 



25. Circles about the moon always foreshow winds on 

 that side where they break ; also a notable shining in some 

 part of the circle, signifies winds from that part where the 

 shining is. 



26. If the circles about the moon be double or treble, 

 they foreshow horrible and rough tempests, and especially 

 if those circles be not whole, but spotted and divided. 



27. Full moons, as concerning the colours and circles, 

 do in a manner foreshow the same things, as the fourth 

 rising, but more present, and not so long delayed. 



28. Full moons use to be more clear than the other ages 

 of the moon, and in winter use to be far colder. 



29. The moon appearing larger at the going down of the 

 sun, if it be splendent and not dusky, betokens fair weather 

 for many days. 



